Teacher of Psychology Croydon, England
Job description
Academy Riddlesdown Collegiate, Croydon
Required September 2023
Salary TCT1 £32,407 – TCT14 £48,055
Closing Date Tuesday 2nd May 2023 (at 9.00am)
Interviews tbc
Welcome
Dear Applicant
Thank you for your interest in the post of Teacher of Psychology. I hope that this information pack will help
you to learn more about our fantastic school and that you will be excited about the prospect of joining our
excellent team.
Riddlesdown Collegiate is an outstanding school (OFSTED, May 2016) with a clear vision to deliver successful
outcomes and positive futures for all of our students. They are bright, well-motivated and a pleasure to work
with, whilst our staff are talented, hard-working and ambitious for themselves and others. Our superb
facilities enable us to provide the very best learning environment and learning experiences for our students
and it is the combination of these factors that leads to the high academic standards and enviable reputation
that The Collegiate Trust is known for. I am very proud of what we do and what we have achieved at the
Collegiate and, as a World Class School, I hold the highest aspirations for what we will do and achieve in the
future. You might like to watch our Welcome, College VI and Teaching at Our School videos.
Whether you are at the very beginning of your career or are looking to develop your experience, Riddlesdown
Collegiate is a great place for professional growth. NQTs benefit from a paid induction period, prior to
appointment, and a well-established programme of support throughout the year, whilst more experienced
colleagues have many opportunities to develop skills and extend their professional learning through an
extensive and varied programme of professional development. Our aim in all appointments is to appoint
colleagues who will share our aspirations and make a major contribution to building the best life chances for
our students.
In applying to Riddlesdown Collegiate, you will need to understand our “small schools” model and your
potential role within it. Our VALUES underpin the way in which we work and describe our high expectations
and our emphasis on positive relationships across the Collegiate. Our motto, “Learners of today, Leaders of
tomorrow”, applies as much to staff as it does to students and it gives an indication of the significance we
place on nurturing talent and leadership. I shall make a presentation to shortlisted candidates at the start of
the interview day to illustrate our structure further and outline our requirements for all colleagues who work
with us.
I would be delighted to receive an application from you if, upon consideration, you feel that this role and the
Collegiate may be right for you. To submit an application, please complete the form on our website, attaching
where requested a statement of no more than two sides of A4, identifying clearly how you meet the person
specification. If you have any further questions about this post, I would be pleased to speak with you; please
feel free to telephone me at the Collegiate.
Yours sincerely
Mrs K Turner
Principal
Key Information
We operate a “small schools” model – one school made
up of a number of smaller learning communities, which
we call Colleges, each with their own staff and facilities.
Each College is led by its own Headteacher (who is an
Assistant Principal) and has its own team of
approximately 25 teachers and non-teachers, covering
most curriculum areas. Students join one of the Colleges
in Year 7 and remain there for five years before
transferring to College VI, our specialist post-16
provision. In addition, the Creative and Performing Arts
(CPA) College delivers specialist education to students
across the Collegiate in Art, Drama, Design Technology,
Media, Music and Physical Education whilst the MacKay
College co-ordinates inclusion services to students with
additional needs. Small teams, working with just 400
students each, allow us to provide even better pastoral care to all students, as well as engage with learners
and their families in more effective partnerships. They also provide teaching across the curriculum and
learning teams focusing on personalised approaches and best serving the needs of the individual students in
their care.
Information about The Collegiate Trust
Our Trust works in the Crawley and Croydon areas with a clear vision to deliver exceptional education for all.
Such an education achieves excellent outcomes in pupil progress and attainment, a rich creative, cultural
and physical learning experience, and great personal and social development for all pupils. We achieve this
by working with and developing strong teams of staff in each school, under the direction of the Principal of
the school and the Local Governing Body (LGB)
The Trust has grown out of Riddlesdown Collegiate, an outstanding (OFSTED, May 2016) secondary school
in Croydon with almost 2000 students and over 200 staff. Gossops Green, in Crawley, was the next school –
and the first primary – to join the Trust, followed by Waterfield Primary (also in Crawley) on 1st March 2018.
A second secondary, The Quest Academy (in Croydon), joined on 1st June 2018 and two further primaries,
Courtwood Primary and Gilbert Scott Primary (both in Croydon) joined on 1st September 2018.
Each school within the Trust is supported centrally by a designated Director of School Improvement on
teaching and learning issues, the Chief Operating Officer, Chief Finance Officer & HR Manager on business
management and HR issues, and the CEO on wider leadership issues. This complements rather than replaces
in-school functions and allows the Principal and LGB to operate with a high level of autonomy in delivering
the highest standards in their school. The LGB works to a Scheme of Delegation approved by the Trust’s
Board of Directors.
Our Values
Our ethos is to be a community in which all members are valued and value each other. We are the leaders
of the Riddlesdown community, responsible for our learning and the Collegiate. We work together to
maximise our own achievement and those of others. In applying for a post at Riddlesdown Collegiate,
applicants should consider how they would promote our values in their day-to-day work with students,
colleagues and other stakeholders.
Value each other
Aim high
Lead by example
Use and develop our talents
Excel in our efforts
Stick at it
Our Students
The vast majority of our students join the Collegiate in Year 7 with above average attainment. Behaviour is
outstanding and our students consistently demonstrate their desire to learn and to achieve. They enjoy
coming to school (attendance is over 95%)
and enjoy lessons where they can explore,
investigate and feel challenged by their
learning. They equally value the
opportunities they have to learn outside of
the classroom and we are proud of the
extensive and varied extra-curricular
programme that our students enjoy and
benefit from. It is these additional, high
quality learning experiences, together with
a strong set of academic qualifications that
we believe provides our students with the
very best chances of success in their future
lives.
Psychology at Riddlesdown Collegiate
Psychology at Riddlesdown is taught to Year 12 and Year 13 groups in College VI. Our aim is to provide a
teaching and learning environment in which students are encouraged to think critically and independently.
Throughout the course we develop students’ ability to write fluently and to reason and argue differing
points. At Key Stage 5, we offer follow the AQA course for Psychology. This course is two years long and
covers a number of well sourced topics such as Social Influence, Memory, Psychopathology, Forensic and
Clinical Psychology, Debates and Issues and Research methodology. A level assessment is by examination
only. There are three papers of 2 hours each, at the end of the 2 years of study, these are:-
- Paper 1 – Introductory Topics in Psychology
- Paper 2 – Psychology in Context
- Paper 3 – Issues and Options in Psychology
The course is very well subscribed with over 150 students and many students go on to read Psychology or
associated disciplines at University. We wholeheartedly follow the ethos of the Collegiate in offering
opportunities outside of the classroom and take part in a number of exciting field trips and conferences such
as Dr. Elizabeth Loftus on Forensics and Dr Richard Wiseman on anomalistic Psychology and Philip Zimbardo.
We also visit a working Sleep Laboratory and take students to the Jack the Ripper walk in London. We are a
motivated team with a real focus on examination success as well as enjoyment of the subject itself.
Classes are shared between two teachers and each member of the Psychology team is responsible for
developing interesting and stimulating resources and preparing Schemes of Work, Teaching Notes and
Assessments in line with the latest developments in psychology teaching. Students receive work booklets for
each of the topics we study to assist them with their progression throughout the course. The department is
well resourced with a range of reference books and research articles. Students are given their own textbook
and are encouraged to read widely and to use the library and ICT facilities to support their learning.
Job Description
Purpose of the Post: To teach a full timetable across the age and ability range of the
College, delivering agreed Schemes of Work and contributing
fully to the subject area and College.
Accountable to: Head of College
PRINCIPAL ACOUNTABILITIES
Curricular Leadership
i. To teach an agreed timetable.
ii. To prepare and deliver effective lessons, ensuring regular assessment informs all aspects of planning.
iii. To contribute fully to collaborative development and improvement within the subject area, College
and Collegiate.
Pastoral Leadership
i. To be a form tutor within the College, monitoring and supporting the academic and social
development of members of a Tutor Group.
ii. To undertake duties at the direction of the College Head.
iii. To promote and safeguard the welfare of all children and/or young people for whom you are
responsible or with whom you come into contact with.
Professional Leadership
i. To participate in all performance management processes.
ii. Through line management arrangements, ensure professional developments needs are identified
and addressed.
Person Specification
The Collegiate Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo
child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers, online
searches and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Appointment will be dependent upon further
health, medical, safeguarding and attendance checks.
Qualifications
Good honours degree
Qualified Teacher Status
Experience
Effective working with young people of a range of ages and abilities
Evidence of making an effective contribution to a team
Skills and Attributes
Ability to deliver high quality learning over time to all students in the subject area
Ability to be an effective Tutor
Capacity to work alongside colleagues, contributing effectively to a team
Ability to quickly establish and maintain positive relationships with students, staff and families
Understanding of safeguarding issues and promoting the welfare of children and young people
Well-developed communication skills, including high level of written and oral literacy and competent ICT
use
Suitability to work with children
Potential for professional progression
Commitment to extra-curricular activities
Staff Benefits
The Collegiate Trust is an exciting, fast-paced group of schools committed to progress, collaboration and
excellence for all staff and students alike. We are a dynamic and expanding trust of seven schools (two
secondaries with Sixth Form provision, and five primaries) with numerous and diverse career opportunities
for both new and existing staff.
All staff and governors, at every level of their career, in both teaching and business support functions, have
an equal entitlement to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This promotes, develops and supports
staff in their shared commitment to lifelong learning. Results are reviewed and evaluated regularly in order
to support further development of our CPD programme and drive constant improvement.
Through expert facilitation, Trust-wide collaboration, inter-school networking, and our extensive CPD
programme, every member of staff has the opportunity to make substantial contributions to the
development of the curriculum, pedagogy and delivery of business services, whilst improving their own
prospects of career progression. We are committed to:-
- facilitating career progression
- offering excellent professional development
- providing opportunities to lead
- extending support from Trust experts
- developing collaborative opportunities to generate new and next practice
Other tangible benefits of working within a TCT school include1:-
Exceptional performance rewards Two-Week October Half Term (instead of 5 INSET days) Well-equipped Staff Rooms and Work Rooms in each College Excellent learning resources in classrooms Cutting-edge technology provision Staff Diner (delicious hot and cold meals every day) Free use of Fitness Suite Other fitness and wellbeing activities, e.g. Staff Football, Yoga, Spin, Staff Choir Free Flu Vaccination available Free Microsoft Office apps Potential for rapid pay progression on The Collegiate Trust scale Contribution to cost of Masters in Education Superb NQT Induction Programme including two-week paid training in June/July A designated delivery partner for the National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) In partnership with St Mary’s University, facilitating the delivery of the MA Education, Leading
Innovation and Change
Individuals who are successful in their application to The Collegiate Trust join us at an exciting time. In return
for the opportunity to be part of our Trust, we ask that all joining members of staff share in our vision of
“Exceptional Education For All” and are motivated to work continuously towards developing their own
professional excellence.
1 At the time of publication, not all benefits available at every TCT school.
How to find us
By Car
Please see the map.
M25 J6 or J7 are 10-15 minutes drive.
Parking is available on and off site.
By Train
A direct train from Victoria to Riddlesdown
station takes 24 minutes. Riddlesdown
station is a short walk from the school.
Kenley station is also a short walk from the
school, over the common. Kenley has direct
trains from Victoria and London Bridge.
More frequent trains run from Purley
Station, where a 412 bus can be taken to
Lower Barn Road, leaving a 10 minute walk.
By Bus
On routes 407, 412, 612.
A Riddlesdown Collegiate
Honister Heights, Purley, CR8 1EX
T 020 8668 5136
E [email protected]
W www.riddlesdown.org
